Nick Sharp – Inside the UK’s war on economic crime

Joining the Dots with Thomas Drohan

Join Thomas for a revealing conversation with Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), as they unravel the hidden web of fraud and financial crime that’s costing the UK billions every year.

From romance scams and impersonation fraud to international laundering networks stretching from Southeast Asia to West Africa, Nick lifts the lid on the staggering scale and complexity of modern economic crime. With over 3.9 million fraud incidents annually, he shares how his career - from frontline civil servant to national crime strategist - has shaped his mission to dismantle criminal ecosystems.

Together, they explore why victim-blaming must stop, how AI is becoming a frontline defence, and why international collaboration is crucial in a borderless digital world. Nick offers a rare inside look at the UK’s fightback against economic crime, revealing both the scale of the challenge and the growing tools at their disposal.

Tune in for an eye-opening journey into the dark economy, and what it takes to stay one step ahead.

Chapters

1. Introduction and podcast overview, Thomas introducing Nick Sharp (00:00:00)

2. Nick Sharp's career background and entry into civil service (00:10:00)

3. Detailed discussion of fraud magnitude and economic crime in the UK (00:20:00)

4. Types of fraud, victim impact, and psychological harm (00:30:00)

5. International dimensions of fraud and cross-border challenges (00:40:00)

6. Future outlook, technological solutions, and industry collaboration (00:50:00)

7. Closing thoughts on combating economic crime and fraud (01:00:00)